Wire-stretcher.



W. SCHMOEGER.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED 02c. 31, 1915.

1 04,076. Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

gwucmm /77. 30/7/770eger' W. SCHMOEGER. WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 31. I915.

1,204,076. Patented Nov. 7,1916.

' 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 an srarns rarnn'r @FFTQE WIBE-STRETGHER.

eonora Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

Application filed December 31, 1915. Serial No. 69,585.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM Sormronenn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Russellville, in the county of Cole and. State of Missouri, have invented certain new and sentially a pair of spaced ratchet bars having teeth formed upon the adjacent longi tudinal edges thereof and a stretching mechanism including an operating lever and a pair of pawls pivotally secured thereto and arranged between the ratchet bars.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts as will be hereinafter specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation, pa'rtly broken away, of the improved wire stretcher, Fig. 2 represents a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 represents a fragmental side elevation, partly in section, of the stretcher, and Fig. 4; represents a transverse sectional view onthe line 1-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numerals 5 and 6 indicate a pair of ratchet bars having inwardly directed teeth 7 and 8 formedupon the inner longitudinal edges thereof and connected at one end by a connecting member 9, which latter may be secured to the bars 5 and 6 formed integral therewith. A ring 10 is fastened to the connecting member 9 and is associated with an anchoring chain 11, whereby the wire stretcher may be anchored in position for use. The opposite extremities of the ratchet bars 5 and 6 are connected by a pair of spaced straps 13 to which is connected an auxiliary anchoring chain 11*.

A palr of friction reducingrollers 14: are

rotatably secured in spaced relation between the straps 13 and the ratchet bars 5 and 6 upon relatively short shafts 15. A sllde rod 16 is slidably mounted between the straps l3 and the friction reducing rollers 14c and is formed at its outer ends with an aperture 17 adapted to receive a chain 18 for connection with a wire or other article to be stretched and is pivotally connected at its inner extremity by a bolt 19 between a pair of strips 20, arranged upon opposite sides of the bars 5 and 6 and constituting a part of the operating lever for the wire stretcher. The other part or section of the lever is designated by the numeral 22 and 1s pivotally connected between the extended ends of the strips 20 by a pivot pin 23, whereby the handle or'outer section of the lever may be folded against the bar 5 for convenient transportation. The section 22 1s rlgidly secured in alinement with the strips 20 by a removable pin 24 engaging in apertures formed in the strips 20 and section 22.

A pair of alternately operating pawls 25 are pivotally secured between the lever sections 20 upon opposite sides-of the pivot pin 19 by pivot pins or bolts 26 Each pawl includes a pair of arms 25, rigidly connected at one end by a connecting pin 26, which latter is normally retained in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet bar by the tension of a spring 27 connecting pins 27 carried by the opposite extended ends 28 of the pawls 25.

A pair of guard members 29 are pivotally secured upon the pivot pins or bolts 26*, are curved from end to end and arranged with their convex surfaces disposed adjacent the teeth of the ratchet bars 5 and 6 so as to prevent accidental engagement of the pivot pins 26 in the teeth 7 or 8 of the ratchet bars 5 and 6. The pins 26 carried by the pawls 25 are extended laterally of one side of the pawl, as indicated at 30, to provide handles whereby the free ends of the pawls may be i moved together against the tension of the spring 27 to facilitate adjustment of the slide bar 16 and the parts associated therewith.

In use, the wire stretcher is anchored in operative position by securing the anchoring chain 11 to a stationary object, such for instance as a tree or post, and the chain 18 is connected with the wire to be stretched. By oscillating the lever 22, the slide rod 16 is caused to move inwardly between the ratchet bars 5 and 6 by the alternate engagement of the two pawls 25 with the teeth of the two rack bars 5 and 6.

What I claim is:

A wire stretcher including a pair of ratchet bars having ratchet teeth formed upon the adjacent longitudinal edges thereof, a pair of lever sections arranged upon opposite sides of said ratchet bars, pins connecting the said lever sections and arranged between said rack bars, pawls pivctally secured to said pins, and curved guard members pivotally secured to said pins adapted to prevent engagement of said pins with the teeth of said ratchet bars. 5

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM SCHMOEGER.

Witnesses M. F. KAUTscH, ADAM JAKIES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five-cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

